What Are the Symptoms of Hepatitis C

By Max. D Gray. Updated: January 16, 2017
What Are the Symptoms of Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a liver pathology caused by the HCV virus that can develop as an acute or a chronic condition. This infection is transmitted by direct contact with blood or other body fluids of people who have it, and its most common causes are unsafe injection practices, inadequate sterilization of medical equipment and instruments or touching blood products that have previously not been analysed. For more details about this condition, the following OneHowTo article will show you precisely what the symptoms of hepatitis C are.

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Steps to follow:

Notably, most patients with Hepatitis C usually have no symptoms at first, so it is very common for this disease to go unnoticed and to be detected only when subjected to an analytical or a routine check-up. Because early diagnosis is very complicated, there are also many cases where hepatitis C is not detected until the patient has a serious problem or liver damage.

That is why it is essential to have the appropriate examinations, an annual check-up and consult a doctor ASAP if you have one or more of the symptoms detailed below.

What Are the Symptoms of Hepatitis C - Step 1

In the acute phase of the disease, Hepatitis C may cause symptoms very similar to those that occur, for example, with the flu, so it is wise to be alert and consult a specialist to determine the exact cause. These symptoms are:

  • Tiredness and weakness.
  • Lack of appetite.
  • Low fever.
  • Nausea.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Vomiting.
  • Abdominal pain.
  • General itching.

Besides these, one of the other common symptoms in most types of hepatitis is: jaundice. This condition is characterized by both the skin and the whites of the eyes acquiring a yellowing which in fairly advanced cases may darken further with time. Jaundice occurs when an increase in the levels of bilirubin in the blood occurs.


When Hepatitis C is more advanced, jaundice can join other symptoms such as pale or very light colored stools, very dark urine, swelling in the legs and abdomen (due to an accumulation of fluid), frequent bruising or bleeding in the nose and gums.

What Are the Symptoms of Hepatitis C - Step 4

Women will also notice more severe symptoms of menstrual pain or menopause. On the other hand, men may also notice a lower sex drive and possible erectile dysfunction.

What Are the Symptoms of Hepatitis C - Step 5

As noted earlier, many of the symptoms of hepatitis C coincide more closely with those of other common diseases, so it is absolutely necessary to consult a specialist if you suspect you have been exposed to transmission of the HCV virus.


If you want to read similar articles to What Are the Symptoms of Hepatitis C, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.

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